Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Shoshanna, Serena, Lulu

I'm finally turning in my answers, right at the tail end of summer, for the most recent movie quiz at Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule, this one administered by one Professor Ed Avery. I have yet to see Bigger Than Life, but I'm looking forward to it. All I know is that it involves James Mason scolding children, and that's enough for me.

1) Depending on your mood, your favorite or least-loved movie cliché.

In horror movies, the fake-out scare followed three beats later by the real thing. I love or hate it depending on the execution and my mood.

2) Regardless of whether or not you eventually caught up with it, which film classic have you lied about seeing in the past?

I'm a terrible liar, so I don't bother.

3) Roland Young or Edward Everett Horton?

Roland Young

4) Second favorite Frank Tashlin movie

The Girl Can't Help It

5) Clockwork Orange-- yes or no?

Yes, definitely.

6) Best/favorite use of gender dysphoria in a horror film (Ariel Schudson)

My first thought was The Silence of the Lambs, but as Hannibal Lecter explains, Jame Gumb isn't actually a transsexual. So let's go with Dressed to Kill.

7) Melanie Laurent or Blake Lively?

How can I not go with Melanie Laurent?
8) Best movie of 2011 (so far…)

The Tree of Life. Overwhelming, challenging, sometimes frustrating, beautiful and ultimately awe-inspiring.

I wouldn't say "savant," but I thought the "Hitler" press conference was hilarious. He just kept digging himself deeper and deeper.

11) Timothy Carey or Henry Silva?

Henry Silva

12) Low-profile writer who deserves more attention from critics and /or audiences

Although Albert Brooks is certainly well-known, his work as a writer/director deserves the same attention given to Woody Allen. Modern Romance and Lost in America, in particular, are perfect screenplays.

13) Movie most recently viewed theatrically, and on DVD, Blu-ray or streaming

Theatrically: Fright Night. It's a blast, and worthy of the original. On DVD: Fiddler on the Roof. Way more entertaining than I remembered (though I last saw it when I was about five years old).

14) Favorite film noir villain

Noah Cross

15) Best thing about streaming movies?

The ease and availability of titles encourages people to be a little more adventurous in their movie-watching choices.

20) Existing Stephen King movie adaptation that could use an remake/reboot/overhaul

It is one of the best books about childhood and the most terrifying book Stephen King ever wrote. The TV movie is creepy, the entire cast is strong and Tim Curry is of course outstanding as Pennywise. But it was limited by the restrictions of network TV, not just in content but in condensing some of the more esoteric aspects of the book's mythology. A three-hour movie or, perhaps better yet, an HBO miniseries that is more faithful to the book could be one of the all-time great horror movies. But the plans I've heard for a proposed remake (updating the timeline to present day, shooting for a PG-13) aren't very encouraging.